Mays done for season with broken leg

Douglas LeeOct 29, 2012 12:34 PM

The return from suspension of D.J. Williams after the Broncos' Week 10 game at Carolina has created questions about how the team will handle its LB corps going forward.

Unfortunately, a fractured fibula suffered by Joe Mays will go a long way to forcing Denver's hand there. Mays is done for the year after he was injured during a Broncos punt return last night, and is expected to be placed on IR tomorrow.

Mays had lost his starting Mike job to Keith Brooking, and had been relegated to special teams duty for the past two weeks. 2011 sixth-rounder Mike Mohamed is on the practice squad as a likely replacement for Mays, if a temporary one until Williams is reinstated.

Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

this all happened at the right time for dj..bad for Joe, good for dj which I have zero use for..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2012-10-30 01:35:07

they were in a bidding war with NOL at the time.. JDR thought enough of him to talk John into signing him..

What he saw is anyone's guess but I'd say it was he could be coached up..

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2012-10-30 01:32:07

I wouldn't connect those two things, especially since Bunkley has played more poorly this season than Bannan or Vickerson anyway.

Posted by underdog on 2012-10-30 01:18:16

I hate this move because it felt like we made a decision to keep Mays and let Bunkley go.

Posted by Douglas Reid on 2012-10-29 17:01:04

Mays injury calls attention to the fact that the LB position is no longer the weakest link in the defensive chain (though I'd be hard-pressed to identify a weak link on defense after last night's performance).

Woodyard has progressed from fill-in and special teams anchor to star at Will. I doubt DJ will dislodge him when he returns. Brooking has done very well at Mike, but Trevathan seems IMO to be taking more and more snaps from him with increasingly good results. It's beginning to look like he is a budding star.Since Irving was supposed to be Von's back-up relief (who obviously doesn't need back-up relief), he's had to find playing time in the packages, and is becoming increasingly noticeable because, not only does JDR use a lot of packages a majority of the time, but Irving is beginning to look quite talented and able to increasingly make quick reads.In addition, there is still the question of how to use DJ when he returns, with Mohamed and Steve Johnson waiting in the wings, both of which still show promise.

With Von as an acknowledge star, Woodyard as one staking his claim to stardom, and Trevathan increasingly IMO demonstrating that he's quickly getting there, LB concerns no longer appear much of a worry. Add to that, Brooking, DJ, and the improving Irving as back-ups (not to mention whatever potential Steve Johnson and Mohamed might have), and it's starting to look like the LB position is one of the strengths of the team.

Posted by ivanthenotsobad on 2012-10-29 16:38:14

I think that Steven Johnson has played MLB as has Mohammed - and have the versatility to play elsewhere. Either one may move up.

Too bad for Joe. He really put forth the effort - as others have pointed out.

Thanks, Doug.

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2012-10-29 16:29:44

He might want to try to work something out with NE. They seem to like those big powerful ILBs.

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2012-10-29 16:26:40

Mays isn't playing next year on this contract. However, cutting him is not the only option. If he wants to stay in Denver, he can restructure his contract. Unfortunately for the Broncos, the contract means Mays has no trade value. So the choice to Mays, if the team offers it, is to take a pay cut and stay in Denver, or get cut and try his luck as a free agent. (Unless Mays isn't fully vested in which case he's subject to the waiver wire.)

Denver did not aquire Mays to be a 43 MIKE. The trade was made when Josh McD was running a FB 34. An ILB in a 34 plays more downhill and less lateral. If Mays is to start in the NFL, maybe that's the role for him.

Posted by A R on 2012-10-29 13:56:58

"Clearly have to cut him at the end of the year, unless he restructures his contract."

There, I fixed it for you.

Posted by A R on 2012-10-29 13:48:42

"I just wonder how they ever figured he was worth $4 million a year."That is the most surprising part of all this. In a sea of good personnel decisions, that one is a head scratcher. I would expect Matt Russell to know linebackers the same way we expect Elway to know QB's.

Posted by Alaskan on 2012-10-29 13:47:39

Technically, I think $4.5 million is guaranteed, so he would count $500k against next year's cap if they cut him, but like you said, the contract is structured so they could release him without incurring a too much of a penalty. I just wonder how they ever figured he was worth $4 million a year.

This is really too bad. He seems like a good guy who always tries his best. I would like to see him back in a Keith Burns type of role. Maybe he will be open to renegotiating his contract, like they did with Vickerson and Warren.

Posted by Broncos777 on 2012-10-29 13:25:23

The Broncos had structured his contract to allow him to be easily released after this season. The contract is worth about $12 million for three years, but all of the first year ($4 millionish) was guaranteed, with very little (or none at all) guaranteed after that. If he had played very well this season he may have been kept around for another year or two. That hasn't been the case, however, so he was certain to be released before next season, injured or not.

Posted by SterlingMalloryArcher on 2012-10-29 13:08:03

Tough end to Mays' season... even though we all agreed it was for the best to get him out of the starting lineup, you never want to see somebody's season end like that.

It's now mostly finding the right guy to take his place on special teams... you would figure Steven Johnson is active for the Cincy game.

And yes, it's pretty clear DJ Williams will have his roster spot secure when he returns from suspension. How he will be utilized remains to be seen, but the Broncos did make the right call to not release him.

Posted by Bob on 2012-10-29 13:05:17

Clearly have to cut him at the end of the year. Paid too highly to be a backup.

Wish him all the best.

Posted by Bronco_JJ on 2012-10-29 12:50:05

Absolute bummer. Hope Joe heals up quick.

Posted by John Tomasik on 2012-10-29 12:49:33

Sorry to hear this. Mays play has often disappointed, but not his effort or his teamwork.

Posted by bradley on 2012-10-29 12:44:08

As I said in previous thread, I wish him the best and hope for a good recovery. I was glad he'd been benched, but think he still can have a real impact as a backup, role player and ST guy. Feel bad for him.

Broncos will be in capable hands, I think Trevathan is coming along, and we know DJ will be back in some shape or form soon, Woodyard and Brooking are playing well, team is okay. But I wish Mays a speedy recovery.